title: Factors related to fungiform papillae density: the beaver dam offspring study.
abstract: The distribution of fungiform papillae density and associated factors were examined in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study. Data were from 2371 participants (mean age = 48.8 years, range = 21-84 years) with 1108 males and 1263 females. Fungiform papillae were highlighted with blue food coloring and the number of fungiform papillae within a standard 6-mm circle was counted. Whole mouth suprathreshold taste intensity was measured. The mean fungiform papillae density was 103.5 papillae/cm(2) (range = 0-212.2 papillae/cm(2)). For each 5-year increase in age, the mean fungiform papillae density was 2.8 papillae/cm(2) lower and the mean density for males was 10.2 papillae/cm(2) lower than for females. Smokers had significantly lower mean densities (former smokers: -5.1 papillae/cm(2); current smokers: -9.3 papillae/cm(2)) than nonsmokers, and heavy alcohol drinkers had a mean density that was 4.7 papillae/cm(2) lower than nonheavy drinkers. Solvent exposure was related to a significantly higher density (+6.8 papillae/cm(2)). The heritability estimate for fungiform papillae density was 40.2%. Propylthiouracil taster status, TAS2R38 haplotype, and perceived taste intensity were not related to density. In summary, wide variability in fungiform papillae density was observed and a number of related factors were found including the modifiable factors of smoking and alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53726, USA. fischer@episense.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cruickshanks
authors.forename: Carla R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pankratz
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pankow
authors.forename: Guan-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D013649:Taste; D013650:Taste Buds / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
chemical_list: D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000098706:Taste Receptors, Type 2
keywords: fungiform papillae; heritability; taste